Floating Baths, designed by Ondrej Lipensky and Andrea Kubna, on the Vltava River in Prague is conceived as a closed rounded space, floating on the water surface. Since the waterfront of the river is a problematic issue here in the city, the architects thought about a function that would get local people into the center again. The floating object is accessible by boat and is not connected to the banks of the river. It is an island and in close distance to Strelecky and Slovansky Island, many small harbors with boats and treadles, but also streets overloaded with cars, is a place to take a rest during the busy day for meeting friends. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Around the perimeter of the bath are placed leasable cabins with couches and necessary services. The bath is complemented by the bar with refreshment, that is accessible from the inner pool area but also straight from the river outside. In the outer circle is also a sauna with a restroom and main entrance. In the middle of the area is the pool with river water, filtered by special textile membrane. The membrane prevents dirt particles intrusion, bacteria intrusion and eliminates the odors. The result is safe bathing in clean water. It is possible to descend to the pool using staircase created by centered circular platforms.

The surface of the pool is 900 m2 and the maximum capacity is 300 people at one moment. The depth of swimming pool is 165 cm and it has 4 lanes 25 m long each. The pool for the children is on the side of the main pool, demarcated with fixed net. Bathers can use common services, such as entrance foyer, restroom, sauna, steam, bar, public lavatories, showers and cloakrooms. All spaces except of sauna, cloakrooms and lavatories are not heated and serve just during the summer.

It has been more than 50 years since people could ice skate on the Vltava river. According to witnesses, the river was frozen last in 1956, when the temperature dropped to -26°C. Since then it freezes only around harbors Smichov and Podoli. We propose restoration of this tradition to the center with alternative usage of floating swimming pool. The swimming pool is covered by prefabricated wooden structure in winter and than an ice surface will be created on it. After many years Vltava could be accesable to ice skaters again.